townsend



(NoModeL) E. O. TOWNSEND.

Urn for the Reception of the Ashes ofthe Dead; No. 232,782. Patented Sept.28,1880.

mnws w N. PETERS, PHDTO-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D c,

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ELI O. TOWNSEND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

URN FOR THE RECEPTION OF THE ASHES OF THE DEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,782, dated September 28, 1880. Application filed July 15, 1880. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ELI O. TOWNSEND, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Receptacles or Urns for the Reception of the Ashes of the Dead;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved form of receptacle or urn for the reception of the residual ashes resulting from the cremation or incineration of human bodies after death,- and it has for its object to provide a means whereby the ashes of the dead may be securely and conveniently preserved for an indefinite period; and to this end myinvention consists in a receptacle or urn for such purposes constructed in the form of a statue, bust, or other part of a human body, preferably a counterpart or likeness of the person deceased whose ashes are to be preserved, the said statue or bust being made either entirely hollow or pro vided with a suitable recess in the back or other portion of the statue for the reception of the ashes, the opening to which is covered with a plate that may be secured over the same, and upon which, if desired, any suitable inscription in regard to the birth, life, character, and death of the person may be placed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved receptacle or urn, and Fig. 2 a sectional view thereof.

In the present instance the receptacle or urn is represented as consisting of a bust, which is indicated by the letter A.

The letter B indicates the recess for the reception of the ashes, and O the plate for closing the same.

The recess may be in the head or base of the statue or bust, as shown by dotted lines, in the former case the crown of the head serving as a covering, and in the latter a plate or other device.

The receptacle or urn may be made of cast material or the usual alloys for casting statues, such as bronze and the like; but I prefer it of marble. The ashes of the dead are thus not only securely preserved in a manner by which they can be readily retained by relatives and friends in the household, but are so kept that their presence will recall only a pleasing recollection of the departed.

Instead of forming the statue or bust in the semblance of the deceased whose ashes it is to hold, it is evident that it may represent someother human figure or portions of the figure known to history, or it may, if desired, be allegorical in character, as deemed appropriate.

I am well aware that urns for holding the ashes of deceased persons are old, and also that statues and busts representing the human figure have been heretofore constructed of various material, solid or hollow in form, and

such I do not claim, broadly; but,

Having described my invention, what I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

A receptacle or urn for the reception and preservation of the ashes of the dead, formed in the shape of a statue, bust, or other part of the h umau figure, and provided with a recess atthe back, head, or other suitable part, adapt ed to be closed by a cover, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses IVitnesses: ELI (J. TOWNSEND.

O. S. DRURY, O. W. BUDLONG. 

